Militant union chiefs were humiliated yesterday as they called off strike plans after admitting their threat to the start of the Olympics had prompted ‘abuse and vitriol’.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, insisted he had ‘no regrets’ about plotting the strike, which had been planned to cause chaos on Britain’s borders today.

The climbdown came hours after ministers revealed that more than enough border staff had volunteered to work to ensure Heathrow, which is expecting its busiest ever day as thousands arrive for the Games, operated as normal.

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Axed: PCS action that would have led to huge queues at airport immigration tomorrow has been cancelled

Other union leaders and Labour leader
Ed Miliband were also understood to have been dismayed that the PCS had
so badly misjudged the public mood by seeking to disrupt the Olympics.

Mr Serwotka sought to save face by
claiming the Home Office had agreed to create an extra 1,100 jobs, 800
at the UK Border Force and 300 at the Passport Office.

‘Queues at Heathrow have been almost
non-existent and athletes and visitors from around the world have
received a welcome of which the country can be proud.’

Mr Serwotka admitted the strike had
triggered a backlash, with critics warning it would bring shame on
Britain with the eyes of the world on this country.

He said: ‘We have been subjected to
the most extraordinary level of vitriol and abuse in the last week
[since the strike date was announced]. The abuse directed at front-line
public sector staff is completely and utterly unwarranted.’

Mr Serwotka said it was absurd to have
paid hundreds of workers to leave under the Government’s austerity
cuts, only to take more on.

Work-to-rule: London Underground workers have been instructed to do no more than the minimum required in their contracts from Friday

South West Trains staff, taking visitors to Olympics events in Weymouth, will also work-to-rule during the Games

‘The taxpayer has actually paid out
hundreds of millions of pounds in terms of redundancy and severance
payments, in many cases to people who would much rather have been at
work,’ he added.

A spokesman for airports operator BAA
said: ‘So far passengers arriving for the Olympics have had a smooth
journey through Heathrow and it is great news that those arriving
tomorrow can also expect a warm welcome to London and the Games.’

The row has renewed calls from senior
Tories for a change in the law to ensure strikes can no longer be
legally called on the basis of tiny turnouts of union members. Only 11
per cent of PCS members voted to strike.

VIDEO: Mark Serwotka from the Public and Commercial Services union on the deal...